The Killers Record With M83’s Anthony Gonzalez

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(Courtesy of Island Records)

When The Killers even mention that they might be going back into the studio, the Vegas rockers tend to receive a lengthy list of potential producers from their label, Island Records. They typically reject the label’s choices, except in the recent case of M83‘s Anthony Gonzalez.

Chatting backstage at Lollapalooza during New Order’s set (essentially the opener to The Killers’ headlining slot), guitarist Dave Keuning told Radio.com that Gonzalez was one of the rare names on the list that stood out to them.

So far the band has only recorded one song with the French electronic producer, whose most recent release was the Oblivion soundtrack, as a way to test out the chemistry.

It’s an approach the band has taken before, using a producer for only one song on an album. In fact, Keuning said it was how they made their most recent record. “Battle Born was kind of all over the place because we just had so many people we wanted to know who they were and what they were like,” he explained.

The Killers teamed up with five different producers including Daniel Lanois (Bob Dylan, Brandon Flowers), Damien Taylor (Bjork), Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam) and Steve Lillywhite for the 2012 release.

“This guy’s worked with The Smiths and U2,” Keuning said of Lillywhite. “So it’s like, ‘What is it about him?’ So we worked with him a little bit.”

Keuning would reveal few details about the new song with Gonzalez, but he did say it’s nearly completed. “I think it will be a great single when it comes out,” he said.